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South Carolina governor apologizes to cabinet

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-27 11:50

WASHINGTON: South Carolina governor Mark Sanford apologized on Friday to his cabinet for keeping them in the dark when he went to Argentina for a private meeting with his mistress.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford wipes his eyes as he speaks to the media about his trip to Buenos Aires and admits to an extramarital affair at the State House in Columbia, June 24, 2009. [Agencies]

Related readings:  Politicians call for disgraced governor to resign  Governor sex scandal blow to Republicans  S. Carolina Governor admits affair

"I had not yet had a chance to apologize to you all personally," said Sanford to his cabinet members as he resumed his office. "I wanted to do so."

It was his first appearance in office since he revealed his extramarital affairs with a long-term friend from Argentina on Wednesday.

"I've made general apologies to the people of South Carolina or to staff at large, but you all are really the epicenter of that team that ... through about 65,000 state employees, serves the people of South Carolina, so I wanted generally to apologize to every one of you all for letting you down."

The governor told the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division chief that he put the agency in a bad place by not telling offices he was going to Argentina last week.

He also told the Commerce Department head that he was sorry for visiting his mistress while on an economic development trip to Brazil and Argentina about a year ago, and promised to pay back an undisclosed amount for the nine-day trip for which taxpayers paid 12,000 U.S. dollars.

A spokeswoman for the Commerce Department said on Friday that initially plans did not include Argentina, but Sanford asked for extra meetings there.

Despite calls from the state Republicans and local media, Sanford insisted on staying in office as a governor, but resigned as the chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

Sanford, who has one year left in his second term, is barred by state law from running again.